Know about Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)

Know about Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)

The PMGDISHA is a Digital Literacy Programme for Rural Citizens. Post announcement of the budget of 2017-18, the union cabinet approved the ‘Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan’ or PMGDISHA. The scheme focuses on extending digital literacy to over 6 crore rural families in rural areas across India. This decision was taken in Union Cabinet meeting which was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to the survey report of NSSO on education in 2014, only 6% of rural households have a computer. Under Digital Indian Programme, PMGDISHA has targeted to provide digital literacy to the rural citizens and providing them access to information, knowledge, and skills for operating computers and other digital devices.

Under the scheme:

This mission was announced by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Union Budget 2016-17. After the approval of the scheme, the government has passed a budget of Rs.2, 351.38 crores for one of the largest digital literacy programs in the world. The government is expecting this project to be completed by March 2019.

Under the scheme, about 25 lac applicants will be trained in the fiscal Year 2016-17, gradually increasing over the years to 300 lac applicants in 2018-19. While to ensure balanced geographical reach, an average of 200-300 candidates would be recorded from each 250,000 Gram Panchayats.

The aim of the Scheme:

After getting digital training, each person would be able to operate computers and other digital devices like smartphones and tablets, send and receive emails, browse the internet, access Government Services, search for information, and undertake cashless transactions.

The main objective of the scheme is to promote cashless transactions through mobile phones;

For the proper implementation of the scheme, this responsibility has been given to the Ministry of Electronics and IT in collaboration with States and Union Territories through the designated State Implementing Agencies and District e-Governance Society (DeGs).